Calm before the storm in NY-9

By DAVID CATANESE

09/10/2011 08:55 PM EDT

With Bob Weprin off the campaign trail Saturday to observe the Jewish Sabbath, the Democratic mobilization effort in the New York House special was left to a group of female elected officials who warned that Bob Turner is a threat to women's rights.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney said Turner would strip away women's "access to life-saving health care." State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky invoked stark imagery, saying the Republican candidate "would return us to the bad old days of back alleys and coat hangers."

In addition to the obvious play for the female vote, the tactics are clearly meant to shock and scare Democrats into voting against Turner if they aren't so motivated to turn out on behalf of Weprin.

And while Washington Republicans are taking a no fingerprints approach to their involvement in the race, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sent out an email Saturday soliciting volunteers to phone bank this weekend for Weprin.

Both sides will suspend campaigning Sunday to honor the Sept. 11 anniversary. On Monday, Rep. Joe Crowley will join Weprin at a midday get-out-the-vote effort event in Forest Hills.

POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt will be reporting from the ground in the 9th Congressional District beginning Sunday night. Follow him on Twitter @politicoalex.